Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-07-16
Worldly Amusements Inconsistent
tcith the Christian Profession.

lcitN tHe CHflStlun PFOJeSSlOfl.
FRosrBURG, Nh, July II, 1887.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
Lest silence on q matter at this time en-
gaging the attention of the readers of your
excellent paper should be construed into
giving consent to views held and practices
INDUCED involving at once the social and re
Hgious interests of the community, and by
those whose lives and teachings are supposed
to affect extensively society for years to
come, l am constrained to enter my protest
against the position taken in defense of the
use of cards, dice, billiards, dancing, theatre
going, wine-drinking, &C., &C., as incom-
patible with the christian profession-and
without sanction from the Word of God.
We speak of christian consistency and
intend that harmony, so beautiful and at
tractive, which ought to be maintained be-
tween profession of religion and devotion
of the entire heart and life to the christian
cause. CAS-" says the Apostle Paul, Eye,
therefore, have received Christ Jesus the
Lord, so walk ye in him."
Christian consistency requires fidelity to
Bible truth. Christianity has its rise (that
is, the distinct principles Of christianity have
their rise) and foundation in the revealed
will of God. This is the standard of its
value, the measure Of our apprehension
and experience of its gracious power. What
ever we are, for the honor of religion and the
spiritual good of men, we are in virtue of the
word of sacred truth dwelling in us by the
Spirit Of God which has been given us. The
noblest type of piety, the highest form of
christian conservation is that which is mould
ed after the instruction of heavenly truth
Whatever else we may have to commend our
claims to piety, our profession cannot be al
lowed to harmonic with christianity unless
we are prepared on all suitable occasions
to openly avow our supreme love to Christ
and the honor of his cause.
Christian consistency demands that we
strive by prayer and selfdenying effort to ad-
vance the kingdom of Christ among men.
Our Saviour in ascending to the throne of
His glory intrusted the work commenced to
His followers as the instrumentaity which
God will bless for the worlds conversion.
He has thus provided for the enlargement
of His dominion, founded in the hearts of
the children ofmen. Mostpowerful were the
motives operating to intimidate this heroic
band, and drive them from the field of con-
hict. Their magnanimity and endurance
their patient toll and sacrifice have command
ed the approval of God and the admiration of
the noblest minds. Yet, we believe, they did
nothing more than their duty, and had they
proven themselves unworthy of the trust
committed to them, we acknowledge they
would have deserved our severest censulc.
But what was there in their relation to the
cause of Christ to bring upon them an OBJ
ligatlon of selfdenial, of labor, and of effort
that is not equally binding on us? In some
respects their work was specially limited to
them and their age, and so far they received
special qualifications for it. But the source
of their obligation is not to be found in any
difference between them and us in respect to
gifts and graces, but in authority and COM
mand of Christ. Their commission is ours:
we are commanded to cultivate their field
the world in all its desolation and moral ruin.
1t is ours to relieve similar sufIerings, to ad.
minister the same consolation, to dispel the
same night Of sorrow and usher in the same
day ofjoy and hope.
Christian consistency requires us to abstain
not only from all sinful pleasures, but also
to shun all vain and worldly" amusements.
The friendship of this world is enmity
against God and if we live in pleasure we
are dead while we live. Whenever religion
strikes its roots into the soil of the human
heart, as leaven put into the meal, it operates
with Il divine power unto the sanctifcation
of all affections and desires; it ennobles all
its powers and attracts the soul toward
eternal joys. IT'S then we can say-"the law
ofthe spirit oflife in Christ made me free from
the law of sin and DEATH" Born in the flesh
we live subjects of sin we live worldly life,
slaves of vain desires and earthly pleasures.
Born of God, we rise to heavenly life; we
are washed; we then renounce the hidden
works of darkness and seek to be clothed in
the garments of purity and light. The circus
and the theatre, the dance room and the
opera, the card and billiard table-in a word,
all scenes and places where the entertain
ments promised are nothing more than
pleasure, pastime and merriment, cannot be
innocently visited by those claiming to be the
children of the Most High. A peculiar peo-
pie called to show forth His praise resorting
to such places ofmerriment and vain delight,
dishonors the christian character, as it denies
the sufficiency of heavenly grace to replenish
continually the fountain of the joy of the
soul, and avows that earthly pleasures are
necessary to complete the measure of mans
supreme good.
The example of such is not only bad, but
initiates against all subsequent efforts to dc
good, for who expects the prayers, exhorta.
tons, or sermons Of such to edify others
Visiting such places involves the loss of much
precious time wicked expenditure of mon.
ey which should be used to relieve suffering
humanity the formation of vicious habits
the acquisition of acquaintance whose infiu
ence is pernicious, and ends finally in the los: